THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS. 233 



one chest and lock, and one looking-glass, and one paper 

 of pins.&quot; There was no wash-stand with bowl and 

 pitcher, soap-dish, and mugs, towel-rack, and other indis 

 pensable articles in a modern bed-chamber. The morning 

 ablutions were probably made in the kitchen, or at the 

 back door from a stone hollowed out for the purpose. 

 Possibly they kept as clean as those who have better 

 facilities for washing. 



The table furniture was rather meager, one set of tea 

 cups, nine plates, four platters, half a dozen spoons, half a 

 dozen teaspoons, two basins, two porringers. There is 

 nothing said of table linen, and probably Mrs. John Wal 

 ton was in the hight of fashion, not only at tea, but at 

 every meal, eating from a bare board. This, I mistrust, 

 was not mahogany or black walnut oiled, but plain pine 

 or maple, which was scrubbed daily for the whole term 

 of her natural life. 



A significant entry was &quot; one little wheel, one pound.&quot; 

 This was the linen wheel on which all the sewing thread 

 was spun, and the fine linen for shirts and sheets, and 

 other articles for the bed, and for the person. There was 

 also &quot; one set of loom irons, 3 shillings.&quot; John was ex 

 pected to make the loom himself. Fortunately it con 

 sisted mainly of wood, and the framing was not difficult. 

 This brings* back the good old days of homespun. In 

 that loom was woven all the clothing, woolen and linen, 

 of herself, husband and children, for a whole generation. 

 What visions of solid work and happiness the loom and 

 wheel open to us ! 



We find also among the bridal items &quot; hard money for 

 to buy a cow with, 5 pounds 8 shillings.&quot; The hard 

 money indicates the abundance of paper currency at the 

 close of the war. The price of cows was relatively much 

 higher than the price of horses. Twice the sum would 

 now buy a very good cow. That cow laid the foundation 

 of John Walton s fortune. His wife understood the mys- 



